The International Training Programme (ITP) team is in Mansa, Luapula Province,to familiarize themselves with the Single Window Initiative (SWI)

The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services with the technical Support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Arbetsförmedlingen (the Swedish Public Employment Service), UNICEF and the Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI) have been providing capacity building to the country through the International Training Change Programme.

The International Training Programme (ITP) framework for Zambia has prioritized the Single Window Initiative as the Country Change Programme to enhance coordination and strengthen the social protection system from National to Sub-National levels.

This will also enhance accessibility of social protection programmes in a more coordinated way in the spirit of decentralization.

Provincial Social Welfare Officer, Mr. Enock Sakamunu was at hand to receive the multi sectoral team and highlighted on various issues surrounding the Single Window Initiative.

He applauded the progress being made so far with the Single Window Initiative and cited Samfya district as an excellent example of how the single window should be done, and hoped that other districts will integrate into the progressive initiative.

And Principal Social Welfare Officer, Mr. Maximilliian Bwalya who led the delegation, said the initiative is timely because government’s decentralization agenda cuts across many areas, including the social protection sector.

He said the Single Window Initiative will undoubtedly result in many people accessing programmes in a timely and coordinated manner without beneficiaries going through tedious processes.